Toyota Reports Strong May Sales

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported May sales of 201,493 vehicles, an increase of 7.8 percent over May 2004. It marks the third consecutive month and sixth time Toyota has recorded at least 200,000 sales in a single month. Calendar-year-to-date (CYTD) sales total 919,195 units, up 11.9 percent over the same period last year.

"The pendulum of consumer preference is swinging in favor of smaller SUVs, crossovers, hybrids and passenger cars," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president and COO. "It's the breadth of our lineup that enables us to satisfy today's buyers." The Toyota Division reported May sales of 175,038, up 7.6 percent. The Lexus Division recorded best-ever May sales with 26,455 units sold, an increase of 9.6 percent.

Toyota Division passenger cars posted record May sales of 103,630, up 14.6 percent over the same period last year. The all-new 2005 Avalon full-size sedan enjoyed sales of 9,165, up 166.8 percent. The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan posted best-ever May sales of 9,461, an increase of 158.7 percent.

Scion reported best-ever May sales with 13,229 units sold. The tC sports coupe, which debuted last summer, led the way with 6,436 units sold. The popular xB subcompact recorded its best-ever May with 4,592 units sold, an increase of 32.3 percent over May of last year.

Toyota Division light truck sales were led by the Tundra full-size pickup with May sales of 10,557 units, an increase of 18.4 percent. The Rav4 compact SUV recorded a sales increase of three percent over May of last year with 6,829 units.

Lexus passenger cars posted strong May sales with 12,641 units, an increase of 7.3 percent. Sales momentum continued following the late February launch of the all-new 2006 GS 300 and GS 430 luxury performance sedans. The GS 300 had sales of 2,503, an increase of 304.1 percent, while the GS 430 posted sales of 638, an increase of 367 percent.

Lexus Division light trucks produced best-ever May sales with 13,814 units, up 11.7 percent. The 2006 RX 400h, launched in April as the world's first luxury hybrid vehicle, reported sales of 2,931 units for the month. The RX 330 luxury SUV on which the RX 400h is based, enjoyed combined May sales of 10,707 units, an increase of 20.1 percent.

Sales of North American-built vehicles accounted for 63.5 percent of total May sales. There were 24 selling days this sales month compared to 26 last May.